[Recent aspects of the biocompatibility of carbon fibers. A histologic and electron microscopy analysis]

Twenty out of 36 patients who had been treated with a carbon fiber syndesmoplasty were followed up 12-19 months after surgery. Reoperation was performed on 11 patients, in 3 cases for removal of the material and in 8 because of persistent pain, although the syndesmoplasties were stable in the majority of cases. Histologic and electron-microscopic study of the explanted ligaments revealed a considerable foreign-body reaction to the carbon fibers and insufficient metaplasia of the allogenic material to connective tissue.